High school students kill classmate over alleged theft

Four high school students accused of beating their classmate to death in Las Vegas have been charged with second-degree murder. 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr. lost his life following a fight in an alleyway near his school where he was surrounded by his peers. While police stated that a total of nine students have been arrested so far, they also noted that although the first four students to be charged are under 18, they will be tried as adults under Nevada law.

Dontral Beaver (16), Damien Hernandez (17), Treavion Randolph (16), and Gianni Robinson (17) appeared in court on Tuesday for their arraignment.

The fight, which was captured on social media, took place on November 1 near Rancho High School. Police stated that the fight broke out over headphones and an electronic cigarette allegedly stolen from the victim or his friends. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police homicide lieutenant Jason Johansson refused to show the video to the press, describing it as "very graphic" and "dehumanizing."

Johansson said the video shows Jonathan taking off his shirt to prepare for the fight, immediately after which 10 students surrounded him. He added that the footage shows the students kicking and punching Jonathan after pulling him to the ground. Jonathan Lewis Jr. was left unconscious and was found by a member of the public who brought him back to the school. He was later taken to the hospital after school staff performed CPR on him. Police said the teenager died six days later due to "head trauma." An autopsy determined his death was a homicide resulting from blunt force trauma. Police stated they have arrested nine students ranging in age from 13 to 17 and are still working to identify everyone involved in the incident.

Separate hearings are expected for those not yet charged, as they are all under 16. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters that his office chose to charge the youths with second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder because the evidence suggests the fight was not premeditated. Robert Draskovich, an attorney for one of the charged students, said he believes the videos of the fight are "incomplete." Draskovich told reporters, "I will be reviewing all the videos with my investigator to see what actually happened." Under Nevada law, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison.

News Source: 12punto